Oscillatory valve for internal combustion engines



-June 2l, 1938.

8 6 7, l 2 1, 2 R, E m E N H T E R B c oscILLAToRY VALVE Fon INTERNAL coNBusTIoN ENGINES Filed Ja'n. 29, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 l lNvEm-clDR 60er 5mg-rs ATTORNEY 05u-wlan June 21, 1938. QBRETscHNr-:IDER 2,121,768

l OSCILLAT-ORY VALVE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Jan. 29, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jue 21, 1 938. c. BRETscHNElDl-:R

OSCILLATORY VALVE-FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Jan. 29, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l INVENTOR /u/akfrscH/vE/f@ ATTORNEY Patented June 21, 1938 OSCILLATORY VALVE FOB NTERNAL 'COM- BUSTIGN ENGINES Curt Bretschneider, Philadelphia, Pa., assigner of twenty-five percent to C. Alexander Hatfield,

North Wales, Pa.

Application January 29, 1938, Serial No. 187,612

14 Claims.

This invention relates to oscillatory valves for internal combustion engines.

It is among the objects of this invention; to provide an oscillatory valve having a cycle of f? operation in which the valve is expanded to gas tight seating in its relatively stationary positionings, with a predetermined loosening of its sealed engagement in the intervals in which the valve is relatively moving; to provide an internal combustion engine with an oscillatory valve of high efficiency and which retains the high emciency for an unprecedentedly long life; to provide an oscillatory valve requiring little force for its oscillation but which is gas tight when necessary; @to provide improved mechanism for actuating an oscillatory valve; to provide a valve which is unprecedentedly free from frictional wear; and many other objects and advantages as will become more apparent as the description proceeds.

In carrying out the invention in a preferred embodiment, an expansible oscillatory valve is disposed in a housing, means are provided to expand and contract the valve in cyclic relation to its oscillations to make it gas tight at desired :intervals and free from undue friction during its oscillation.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l represents a transverse vertical section, partially in elevation, through an internal comoabustion engine containing the improved valve of the invention according to one embodiment thereof,

Fig. 2 represents a fragmentary transverse section through the engine of Fig. 1 with two valves shown in section in different positions of adjustment relative to the common port of each cylinder,

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 represent side elevations of pushing and forming elements respectively dis closed in Fig. l,

Fig. 6 represents a plan of the forming element of Fig. 5,

Fig. '7 represents a reflected or bottom plan of the skeleton or forming element of Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 represents a transverse section through the forming element of Fig. 5 taken on line 8 3 thereof,

Fig. 9 represents a vertical section, partially in elevation of the valve element and the actuating .cams therefor taken perpendicularly to the section of Fig. 1,

Figs. 10 and 11 represent respectively a plan and a vertical section of the main expansible channel forming valve element, shown in Figs. 1 55y and 9, showing cam surfaces,

(Cl. 12S-81) Figs. 12 and 13 represent respectively a plan and vertical section of the upper contractive camsurface-carrying cooperative element for the channel forming element,

Figs. 14 and 15, and 16 and 17 represent respectively plans and vertical sections of additional lower contractive and expansive cooperative elements for anchored engagement with the channel forming expansible element of Figs. 1 and 9,

Figs. 18 and 19 represent side elevations and bottom plans of one of the cams for oscillating the valve as disclosed in Fig. 9,

Fig. 20 represents an elevation of the central cooperating cam element showing the double cam surface for receiving the alternate thrusts of the inclined cams to secure oscillation of theV valve,

Fig. 21 represents an elevation of the double cam by which either expansion or contraction ofthe oscillatoryvalve is secured,

Fig. 22 represents a side elevation of the double cam element of Fig. 21,

Fig. 23 represents a fragmentary horizontal` section through the engine with the several camv actuated control elements shown in section,

Fig. 24 represents a fragmentary vertical section, partially in elevation, of the upper end lof the contracted oscillatory valve, with the upper end of the double cam actuating element in a position contracting the valve, and showing indotted lines the position of the parts in the expanded position of the valve, in an exaggerated manner, i.

Fig. 25 represents a fragmentary transverse. section through a valve according to this invention in contracted position relative to the walls within which it oscillates, to indicate the minimization of friction secured thereby, and showing in dotted lines the expanded positionY thereof to tightly sealed position, in an exaggerated manner.

Referring to Fig. 1 the internal combustion engine lll may be of any desired type having any desired form of power conversion, althoughA for illustrative purposes it will be considered as an ordinary four cycle reciprocating piston type having a cylinder l E, piston I2, connecting rod I3, crank throw I4 and crank shaft l5. Suitable water jacketing i6 will be provided and a combustion chamber ll will be formed above the piston, in communication with which a spark plug I8 will be provided. The combustion chamber is prolonged laterally in any desired suitable manner into a common channel or port passage 20 leading to a valve chamber 2 I. The valve chamber 2l and common port or channel 2li are divided into an exhaust passage 22 and an intake passage 23, by the abutment 2li in the common passage, and by the formation of the valve with an abutment end 9 wide enough to close both intake and exhaust ports and with side walls 'l and 8, to be described. The exhaust passage is dened on one side by the abutment 24 and the valve itselfl (wall l) and on the other by a wall surface 25. The intake passage is defined on one side by the abutment 26 and the valve itself (wall 8) and by the wall surface 2B. At the rear of the valve the wall surface 2l of the engine defines with walls 25 and 2S, the valve chamber, and its lateral wall areas 28 and 3@ are spaced from the complemental surfaces 25 and 26 respectively to form the respective exhaust and intake conduits 3l and 32, leading to the exhaust manifold, not shown, and to the carburetor or other charge forming device or intake manifold, not shown. The particular mode of providing the explosive mixture forms no part of the present invention.

It will be understood that where the cylinders are in multiple, as shown in Fig. 2, the valve sides will be reversed so that two adjacent valves will open upon a single common exhaust channel 3l, or upon a single common intake channel 32, as will be clear.

The upper end of the valve chamber 2l is closed by a suitable removable plate 33, which carries a suitable depending anti-friction device 34 which is well lubricated and is capable of adjustment as indicated in Fig. 1, and the plate has suitable lubricating passages 35 through which lubricant may pass in any preferred manner. The antifriction element such as the rounded ball element on the end of the threaded shank shown, is engaged from below by the upper end 36 of a forming or skeleton element 3l, in a recess 38 thereof, and the end 36 is such as to have slidable fit within the valve chamber 2l. The lower enlarged end lli thereof has similar slidable fit in the lower end of the valve chamber. The forming element throughout the length of the valve element itself, is a narrow shank, as at 3l', having lateral walls fl! and l2 which are slightly inclined rela.- tive to each other, preferably, and has the indented arcuate grooves 33 to receive leaf springs lill, arranged to bear laterally against the inner wall surfaces of the valve element to be described. The shank portion 3'! is longitudinally slotted in the rear wall as at to receive the anchoring tongues of valve elements to be described. The lower enlarged portion 4E of the forming element is made hollow for lightness and accessibility of the interior, and has an eccentric slot i6 to receive an end of the double cam element to be described, and has an eccentric bore l to receive the short push rod 48 slidable therein, having an edge portion in alignment with the axial bore in the bottom plate surface 5l of the forming element. The lower portion of the forming element is out away laterally to expose the apertures 52 and is eccentrically vertically notched as at 53 for a driving connection.

The forming element has a rigidly mounted lower extension comprised of the tubular shank 55 (Fig. 20), within which the push rod 56 is slidable to abutment against the tubular eccentric push rod 48 in the forming element, and carries at its upper end the attachment plate 5l arranged to engage against the bottom surface of the plate -end 5l, with the vertical ears seated in the notches 53, and anchored by suitable bolts or the like 58 passing through the apertures 52 into the extension plate 5l.

Disposed laterally of the junction of the tubular shank 55 with the plate end 5l, on each side thereof, is the depending cam device 5B, having inclined cam faces respectively 5l) and 6l. In an aperture 52 in each face perpendicular to the cam face 5:3 or 6i, is the adjusting bolt head or other adjustment wear element 63. Vertical thrust alternately on each face causes oscillation of the valve assembly.

The engine below the valve chamber may be enlarged and provided with a removable plate 6d to facilitate adjustments of the valves, as may be desired, and will have a transverse baille having constricted or restricted annular journals or bearings S5 to receive and enable rotation of the tubular shank 55 of the lower end of the rigid eXtension, and bearings provided as at 6&5, for the vertically reciprocable cam actuating elementarespectively 6l and S5. The actuating elements have at the upper end each an inclined cam surface SS disposed substantially parallel to the respective faces @d and El with which they are each substantially juxtaposed. Each actuator preferably has an internal bore l@ arranged to receive a shock absorbing compression spring 'll and the push rod shank l2, the lower end of which is enlarged as at 13 to engage in the cooperatingly enlarged aperture and to serve as the wear element in contact with the juxtaposed cam of the pair of cams lil and l5. The oscillating cams 'M and 'l5 are mounted on the cam shaft 16 and separated by the expansion cam 'l1 with which the axial push rod 56 is inl engagement. Obviously the cam disposition will be changed or modified from that disclosed depending upon the variation in timing it may be desired to impart tothe valve. It will be clear that upward motion of the cam actuator 6T will cause the cam surface 69 thereof` to engage the end of the bolt 63 and to swing the entire assembly of the forming element in one direction. In the cycle of operations the cam 5l will drop away from the bolt head 63 and in due course the other cam actuator 68 Will rise and its cam face E59 will engage the other bolt head 53 and the forming element will be swung in the other direction.

The forming element as. disclosed obviously comprises a mere skeleton upon which elements must be mounted to constitute a valve, although it is contemplated that the valve may be provided as a unitary one piece device if desired. The valve may be formed in many ways, obviously, but in the interest of simplicity of construction and operation an illustrative not limitative embodiment is disclosed. For ease of assembly the valve will be considered as formed of ve nesting elements, shown disassembled in Figs. to 17 inelusive, and in nested engagement in Fig. 9. 'I'he main valve element comprises a channel member which is internally slotted as at 8i) having the longitudinal aligning lug 8| arranged to engage in the forming member slot 45 in assembled relation, upon which member the valve elements all may be mounted by straddling the forming shank as the elements move laterally to seating thereon. The main element has at the top quasi annular plate, baffle or sealing element 82 arranged to seat in the valve chamber 3| to prevent leakage longitudinally of the valve. A oomplernental slotted plate or sealing element 83 is provided at the lower end, also arranged to sealingly engage in the valve chamber to prevent drical oil conducting plug |98 arranged to emdownward longitudinal leakage from the valve.

It will be understood that any desired packing the upper, end the slot 8) communicates with the outwardly flared cam surfaces 91 extending transversely to the lateral end of the legs of the yolre or clevis surrounding the slot 3|] to receive the actuating double cam to be described. The

'upper end of the main valve element has an interrupted axially extending annulus or wall '88, arranged to be embraced by the nested upper complemental valve element 9|). The latter is slotted and has at the top a plane surface Si arranged to slide under the cover plate and has the'internalear or rib 92 to engage in the slot in the shank 31 of the forming member. The upper valve member has the enlarged bottom recess 93 arranged to receive the annular rib S8 of the main valve element, and has the inclined milled slots 94 extending from each side of the median lateral slot 95 between the legs of the element. The lower end of the main valve element rests upon the intermediate complemental split or slotted element B6, already mentioned, and the lower `end of the latter is provided with the annular end recess 96, and inclined milled cani surfaces 91, and the integral ear or tongue 99, the substantially identical counterpart of the recess 93, inclined surfaces 94 and ear 92, of the elementy just described above. The intermediate member or element in turn rests upon a slotted sub-element |90 having similar contours to the channel element, including the slotted aperture the upwardly inclined surfaces |92, the upwardly directed axial annular wallk or rib lill arranged to engage within the recess 99 of the last described subelement, and the anchoring ear 54. The sub-element |90 has a lower plane face seated upon the upper end of the enlargement @il of the forming element of the valve, and has recesses 99 housing springs H9.

With the several elements just described in nested relation one with another and pushed laterally onto .the forming element shank, as described, it will be clear that a vertical slot will remain eccentric of the valve axis. This is substantially lled with the double cam element to be described. It will be understood that the several components of the valve will have outer d1- mensions and contours conforming to that of the valve chamber 2| and that for all practical purposes the valve assembly can be considered after assembly as a single entity having a groove or recess shaped to receive a double cam element to be described.

A double cam device is provided comprising a shank |05 having at the lower end a threaded bore |96 to receive an adjustable stop element |01, and is outwardly shaped to be slidably received and guided laterally in the several slots of the valve element and the slot in the forming element in enlargement 4i) thereof, and in the direction radial of the piston and. cylinder is so shaped as to be slidable between the rear edge of the shank 31, as at 39, and the valve chamber surface of the wall 21. It has its lower end with the adjustable stop |91 in position to be engaged by a portion of the tubular push rod a8, and at the upper end terminates in a substantially cylinbracingly receive a compression spring of desirable strength, as H9, and to be slidably disposed in a guide and lubricator aperture 29 in the top flangeor plate 36 of the forming element. Toward the upper lend the shank has a pair of 1at erally upwardly inclined cam arms respectively and M2, having each an upper cam surface H3 arranged to engage the inclined slots 96 of the composite valve to draw the valve legs together to contract the upper portion of the valve, and each has also the lower cam surface H4 arranged to engage the upwardly flared internal surfaces 81 of the main valve element to force the legs of the element outwardly and apart to expand the valve. Toward the lower end the shank has the lower laterally upwardly inclined pair of divergent cam arms H5 and li having each upper surfaces ||1 arranged to engage the inclined surfaces 9? to draw the lower end of the valve together simultaneously with the upper end,

and lower cam surfaces H3 to engage the in-V clined internal surfaces |92 to spread the lower end of the valve simultaneously with the upper end. i

With the parts arranged as disclosed it will be clear that as the cams 14 and 15 cause oscillation of the entire valve body, the system of push rods and the cam 11 will positively be impelled upwardly to simultaneously pull the valve toward constructed positionat the top and bottom as shown in full lines in Fig. 25, with the double cam element in theposition shown in full lines in Fig. 24. At this juncture the coil or compression spring will have been loaded, and pursuant to movement of the cam 1l to a position permitting the system of push rods and double cam elements to move downwardly the coil spring will urge the shank of the double cam downwardly, simultaneously forcing the lower cam faces to engage the juxtaposed valve surfaces to force the valve to expanded position at both the top and bottom. 'Ihis is indicated in dotted lines in both Figs. 24 and 25. The lateral expansion of the valve is facilitated in case of need by the spring devices il as indicated in dotted lines. in Fig. 24.

The preferred arrangement of the cams is such that with the piston starting up on compression stroke, the valve will have moved to the middle position as shown at the left of Fig. 2, and in Fig. 25, and in this position simultaneously with its attainment the valve will have been urged to expansion to the dotted line position shown. This gas'tight positioning is maintained during the remainder of the compression stroke, through the beginning of the firing or power stroke, toward the lower end of which the contracting cycle of the cams will occur as a result of which the valve will become contracted suiciently to permit oscillation with a minimum of friction. The contraction of the valve will occur very slightly in advance of the oscillation of the valve toward the right, (Fig. 25), to open the exhaust port, through which the exhaust gases will pass during the small balance of the power stroke, and through the entire exhaust stroke. Then at the climax of the exhaust stroke, at somewhere near approximately top dead center of the piston, with the valve still constrioted to prevent frictional binding and wear the valve is suddenly oscillated from exhaust through the slight movement toward intake which maintains while the piston travels to the bottom substantially of the intake stroke, Still preferably with the valve in frictionless constricted position. Then toward the Gov-- bottom of the intake stroke, the valve is suddenly oscillated to close both ports, and practically simultaneously therewith, although obviously not prior thereto, the valve is again expanded to the dotted line position of Fig. 25, during compression, and the cycle is complete.

It is pointed out that the showing of Figs. 24

, and 25 is highly exaggerated, as it would be dinicult to indicate the true but minute expansive movement of the valve elements. It may be noted further that the abutment 2@ may be omitted if desired, or it may be made wider or of other changed size if it were desired to reverse the valve element to have the expansive end in engagement with the said abutment. As an element in the assembly it may be noted that this is facilitated if the double cam reciprocatable member |535 is mounted in the forming element before the compound valve element is moved laterally to straddling engagement therewith. The advantage of the illustrated disposition of the valve in pla-ce of reversal thereof in place, lies in bringing the adjustment nut or bolt head ill? into juxtaposition to the rear opening through which adjustments can be made with ease, among other advantages.

The further advantages of the invention, as well as the fact that many modications may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, will be obvious, and such changes are to be construed as Within the scope of the invention unless otherwise specically limited in the attached claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In internal combustion engines a valve chamber, a valve in the chamber, means for oscillating the valve in the chamber, and means for expanding the valve in the chamber in synchronism with the oscillations thereof.

2. In internal combustion engines, a valve chamber, a valve in the chamber, means for oscillating the valve in the chamber, and means for contracting the valve in the chamber in synchronism with the oscillations thereof.

3. In internal combustion engines, a valve chamber, a valve in the chamber, means for oscillating the valve in the chamber, and means for varying the external size of the valve in synchronism with the oscillations thereof.

4. In internal combustion engines, means dening a common intake and exhaust passage, an oscillatable valve disposed in the common passage and arranged to close both the common intake and the common exhaust in one position, means for expanding the valve in said position to make the valve substantially gas tight, and meansfor releasing the expanded condition and for oscillating the valve from the said position.

5. In internal combustion engines, a valve chamber, a valve disposed in the chamber and arranged for oscillation, said valve having an axis oi oscillation, means carried by the valve including depending inclined faces in substantially common planes, push rods arranged for vertical movement in contact with each face, a cam shaft, and cams in engagement with the push rods for actuating same, the whole constructed and arranged that the valve is swung about its axis alternatively by the vertical thrusts of the push rods.

6. In internal combustion engines, a valve element having a longitudinal slot, means defining a valve chamber and closing said slot, and wedging means reciprocable in the slot for wedging the element to an expanded condition relative to the valve chamber during the cycle of operation of the engine.

7. In internal combustion engines, means defining a valve chamber having three communicating passages, an oscillatable valve having an axis of oscillation, means for oscillating said valve to successively close communication between the three passages, and to place pairs of passages in communication, and expanding means in synchronism with the engine cycle for urging the valve to gas tight relation to the valve chamber during the interval in which all of the passages are out of communication.

8. In internal combustion engines, means deining a valve chamber having three passages in communication therewith and respectively comprising an exhaust passage, an intake passage, and a common exhaust and intake passage, means for oscillating the valve from a position in which the exhaust and common passage are in communication to a position in which the intake and common passage are in communication and to a position in which the common passage is closed relative to either the intake or exhaust passages, and means for securing a synchronous periodic expansion and release of the valve during the cyclic positioning of the valve.

9. In internal combustion engines, means dei ning a valve chamber having three passages in communication therewith and respectively comprising an exhaust passage, an intake passage, and a common exhaust and intake passage, means for oscillating the valve from a position in which the exhaust and common passage are in communication to a position in which the intake and common passage are in communication and to a position in which the common passage is closed relative to either the intake or exhaust passages, means for expanding the valve in the valve chamber during the last mentioned position oi the valve, and means for contracting the valve in the valve chamber during its oscillatory movement.

l0. In internal combustion engines, means defining a substantially cylindrical valve chamber, an oscillatable valve disposed in the chamber and comprising' a median position having fluid conduit walls and valve chamber sealing means on each side longitudinally of the said walls, said valve having parallel inclined cam surfaces and a slot with which the surfaces are in communication, a recipro-catable push rod having a laterally extending upwardly inclined cam arm arranged alternately to engage one or the other of said parallel cam surfaces with the push rod disposed in said slot, means for reciprocating said push rod and alternatively expanding and contracting the valve, and means for oscillating the valve in synchronism with the reciprocations of the push rod.

il. In internal combustion engines, means defining a valve chamber, a valve oscillat-ably disposed in the valve chamber, said valve comprised of a forming member having a relatively narrow shank, a plurality of valve components each having a lateral slot and straddling said shank, means on the valve comprising cam surfaces, a longitudinally slidable element disposed in the slots, a cam carried by said element in position to engage the cam surfaces to selectively expand or contract said valve relative to said slots, and means .for actuating said slidable element.

l2. In internal combustion engines, means defining an apertured valve chamber, valve means having an axis of oscillation and disposed in the valve means and including two inclined depending cam faces disposed on opposite sides of said axis, said last mentioned means including a push rod journal concentric to said axis, a cam shaft substantially perpendicular to the said axis, a cam on said shaft in position to actuate a push rod in said journal, oscillation-controlling push rods having a linear motion parallel to said axis and arranged to engage the respective inclined 'cam faces, and cams on said shaft on opposite sides of the rst mentioned cam to engage and actuate said last mentioned push rods to swing the valve.

13. In internal combustion engines, means denng a substantially cylindrical valve chamber, a valve in said chamber having an axis of oscillation, said valve being longitudinally split so as to be capable of distortion, spring pressed means disposed in said split and arranged to urge the valve to one condition of distortion, cam means operatively associated with the said means to move it against the resistance of the spring to urge the valve to another condition of distortion opposite to the rst mentioned condition.

14. In internal combustion engines, means dening a valve chamber Which is substantially cylindrical in contour having three communicating passages separated by Wall areas, a valve substantially U shape in cross section disposed in the chamber and arranged for oscillation with the legs of the U shaped portion engaging one of said areas in every adjusted position, the portion of the valve bridging the legs having such peripheral extent as to simultaneously engage both of said other wall areas in one position of adjustment, means disposed between said legs of the U shaped portion arranged to force them apart and against the first mentioned engaged area to expand the valve to intimate bearing engagement of the bridging portion against the said last mentioned other areas to seal the valve with the passages all out of communication.

CURT BRETSCHNEIDER. 

